State of the Union Response Analysis

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As students of rhetoric, the State of the Union address and opinions regarding its content provide excellent opportunities to see how style analysis plays a role in our everyday discourse.

Question: How do texts use elements of style to create and establish their tone?


Part I:

Issues from the State of the Union address - This site breaks the speech down into eight key topics.
  1. Browse the topics.
  2. Select six topics.
  3. Read their summaries and view the clips from the speech.
  4. Click on the discussion tab above and paraphrase the summaries and what the president said regarding the issues.

Part II:

The six links below offer a variety of responses to the president's address.
  1. Read each response.
  2. Click on the discussion tab above, follow the directions, and post your group's findings.
  3. Remember, you are reading each response while considering how the text establishes the tone.
The New York Times, The Heritage Foundation, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, Slate, The New York Post

Part III:

You will summarize your findings to the class. Each member will speak, and you may use your postings as a guide.